FORT MYERS, Fla. – Daisuke Matsuzaka’s spring training debut with the Boston Red Sox began when he gave up a leadoff double to a college junior. The Japanese pitcher then retired the six batters he faced on Friday.

Matsuzaka threw 25 pitches, 19 for strikes in the first two innings against Boston College.

Fifteen photographers stood behind home plate to capture his warmup pitches and more than 100 media members attended the much-anticipated debut, even though it was just an exhibition game against a college team.

Johnny Ayers, a junior right fielder, lined Matsuzaka’s first pitch, a fastball, to left field for an opposite-field double. Some of his teammates in the dugout focused cameras on him as he took his swing.

But no other Eagles batters hit the ball hard before Matsuzaka was replaced after the second inning by Kyle Jackson.

“It’s not a realistic goal to go out there and think I might hit a home run or a double. No one expects it,” Ayers said. “I’m hoping just to have a quality at-bat, make solid contact. I think that’s the best-case scenario. I’m hoping to see a fastball.”

Ayers, a punter on the BC football team, took third when Ryan Hutchinson was out at first on a ball tapped in front of the plate that was fielded by catcher Jason Varitek as Matsuzaka charged in from the mound. Then Matsuzaka struck out the next two batters.

Matsuzaka is scheduled to make his first appearance against major leaguers on Tuesday against the Florida Marlins.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Ryan Howard got a raise. He’s still one of the biggest bargains in baseball, though.

The Philadelphia Phillies renewed the NL MVP’s contract, giving the first baseman a $900,000 salary after the sides failed to agree on a long-term deal.

The figure matches the highest base salary in a one-year contract for a player not eligible for arbitration. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract in 2003.

Howard set a record for the highest salary on a one-year contract for a player with less than two years of major-league service.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Sammy Sosa went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his spring training debut, a “B” game for the Texas Rangers.

Fifth on the career list with 588 home runs and attempting a comeback after sitting out last season, Sosa swung at the first pitch he saw. The 38-year-old former NL MVP hit a weak flyout.

PHOENIX – Oakland Athletics center fielder Mark Kotsay plans on seeking a third opinion on his troublesome back after meeting with a private physician .

The Santa Fe High School graduate, bothered by back problems late last season, has not practiced since Monday.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.